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Last week, the City of Joburg’s Department of Social Development, together with Blind SA, the National Taxi Alliance and SANTACO Taxi Associations commemorated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at Marks Park, with the focus on persons with visual impairment and their transport needs and challenges commuting around the city.
The City, represented by MMC for Health and Social Development, Mpho Phalatse, Blind SA and SANTACO signed a pledge of allegiance as part of its mission to change the commuter experience of the blind and partially sighted people.
Speaking about the pledge, MMC Phalatse said, “We signed a pledge with blind SA and SANTACO where the taxi industry is really committing to improving their service towards person who are visually impaired. A lot of them have challenges within taxi ranks like asking where their relevant taxi is because people would just point towards them to the taxi as if they can see where they are pointing to.”
She said it was important to plan better and respond effectively to challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
In October the Persons with Disability unit within Social Development held a workshops with the taxi industry to raise awareness, providing them with relevant education, as well as equipping them with skills to serve this community better.
Image by Brand SA
The City’s Transport department is also looking at piloting a project to consider free transportation for persons with disabilities within the Rea Vaya bus service. Representatives from Rea Vaya gave persons with disabilities an early Christmas by presenting them with bus tickets preloaded with free rides that they can use to move in and around the City.
